Ok. After a mandatory hiatus and a self imposed oned, i'm back with an update. I've managed to extend the cables to my laptop lcd and managed to correctly extend the inverter and status light cables, however i f'ked up the data cable and the computer wouldn't start up. Disconnected and it started up right away, plugged it back in and unplugged it. No obvious damage done, started right up when i unplugged this cable so here are some pics to hold you over for today.

Ok, next on the agenda:
1- fix lcd cable (swapped a few connections)
2- Find someone who has a glasser's stylus to cut down the acrylic board which will be my screen's frame (i don't have any saws and the only stylus i have is for putting more scratches on my pocket pc screen.
3- Find some way to cleanly put in an ipod dock on the "frame"
4- Either paint the frame black or have it tinted.

Here's the screen concept i envision, it's inspired by the LG Chocolate Cellphones. When the screen is off, it'll be totally black, but when i turn it on, you'll only see the screen and not the frame and wires. I intend to put the laptop's status light circuit board behind this frame as well and maybe etch some small HDD and Power plug symbols in front of the corresponding lights. Like i said before, this screen is too big to do a flush install so i'm looking to secure (word is loosely used) this with velcro or a hinges secured to the center console at the bottom and magnets holding the top in place. I'd really like the screen to be somewhat postionable so i may look into some other mounting method. With tint on the acrylic frame instead of a solid frame, i should be able to see my HU's screen and use it's remote to shoot through the screen to make adjustments rather than reach around the screen frame.

Ok, the new touchpad finally arrvied and my wife got the acrylic sheet cut for me at her work so looks like i'm getting started again on this thing.
Pulled apart the touch pad and it turns out it's a synaptics pad. Since it's PS/2, it frees up a USB port for more stupid stuff to add. Here it is being taken apart.